by Zi'ere
Another thirty minutes later, the new parents emerged from their bedroom recharged.
“Ya’ll better not get pregnant again I know that much! I have three little girls now, I’m good with ya’ll forever! I can’t take the pressure on my heart worrying about my baby trying to carry another baby! Carlos are you even listening to me?” Anna exclaimed as soon as she laid eyes on her son.
“Mama, you know Amina’s tubes are tied, died, and laid to the side. We got enough to deal with. I’m scared anyway. What if we do it again and get three more babies?” Carlos scratched his head.
Everyone in the room erupted in laughter.
“If you get three more you will almost be able to compete with me son.” Greg walked up to Carlos and placed his hand on his shoulder.
Amina thought to herself that all the Haywood men all thought alike no matter what their age.
“I think if anybody is going to catch up with me it’s going to be my baby girl. Cedric told me way before time and on time that he wanted a football team of kids. It looks like he is a man of his word.” Anna rubbed Steph’s bump as she talked.
“Yes I did! I’m gonna keep giving them to her until she tells me she has had enough!” Cedric answered.
He caught a mean set of crossed- eyes thrown at him from his wife. Before she even said a word cries of laughter erupted in the room.
“Well if that is all it takes, YES I HAVE HAD ENOUGH! But I know you just talking to hear yourself speak. I’m tired now as a matter of fact. You ain’t even counting the three with started off with! You got CeeCee and Cedric III and you are still not satisfied so here we go again. We’ve already caught up with Mama- I’m done having babies!” Steph pouted as she continued to explain.
“That’s not what your husband told me!” Anna enjoyed picking at her daughter.
“Tell her what I said Mama.”
“He said from the start that you had to have at least four Steph. That was the number he claimed even before he knew his life was in danger from your brothers.”
Everyone in the room was laughing except Steph.
“Ya’ll can listen to that chewed up grass if you want to! Ain’t no way I’m going through this one more time! Look at my feet? Ya’ll aint never seen me in tennis shoes more than once a month! My feet are too swollen for heels. Every one of ya’ll know I am all about my heels. I’m scared my purse is going to fall out onto the floor if I try to wear them now.”
“Your purse? What purse?” Daddy Greg was confused.
“My vagina daddy!”
“I bet you drop two more for me!” Ced took the baseball cap off his head as he talked. “Is there anyone present here today that would like to place a friendly, yet still family oriented bet on how many children Mother Hubbard is going to have? All bets, we’re taking all bets!”
“You gonna mess around and I am going to come home fried, died, and laid to the side just like Mina did. I will not be able to do seven children! This is not the Partridge family and I am not excited about looking like a whale!”
After many more laughs and more words of pure comedy were recited, the crew all returned to their respective homes for the evening. Just like they had been doing for a solid month, Carlos and Amina began to set up their make shift bed in the girls bedroom.
Prologue
Although she had faith everything would work out, Amina did her best to honor her marital vows to the man who had loved her in sickness and health despite how nerve wrecking the sickness part had been for them. With continued dedication to taking things easy and maintaining a positive attitude Amina was able to get her cardiac issues under control as best the situation could be maintained. She still had days were she could not make it out of bed because the medicines made her so weak. But she saved every grain of energy for her husband and her girls. With the help of the family, the triplets flourished in life as their mother continued to watch them grow.
Amina and Emani’s relationship was never repaired to what it had been before Amina’s illness. Amina still maintained a good healthy friendship with her best friends Laini and Zoey. Between the three of them and the help of the rest of the family, they all vowed to get down to the bottom of what evil dealings Emani had in the works. Amina had finally completed the sale of her shares in the Agency. According to Dr. Frasier, Amina was medically disabled. The ladies simply neglected to tell Emani about the legal changes they had made in the structure of their business ventures. Laini stepped up to be the sacrificial lamb for Emani to blame when all of their counteractions would be made public. No doubt Laini was in for the fight of her life, but she was glad to take on the job out of love for her best friend.
As time passed on Amina became the face for cardiac disease awareness in the state of Arizona. She hosted fundraisers and rallied for the cause within her community. In understanding her specific heart disease she came to know that heart disease was the number one killer in African American women. Because her specific disease was passed to her genetically, she and Carlos had the girls checked regularly to pick up any cardiac issues with early detection. Because of her selfless love and unbreakable commitment she made to her husband, Amina and Carlos’ marriage flourished more than ever. Being a young couple handling situation after situation would have ruined most marriages, yet the Haywood’s remained on track with the help of their role models. Amina made a pact to keep Carlos aware of everything going on with her illness before the babies were born and she honored that promise. To date Amina takes thirteen medications daily but she is happy to report to all those who will listen, that she is still not a candidate for heart transplant just yet.
The End
The saga continues in: After the Affair by Zi’ere!
Coming soon!
~
This story held special meaning for the author, Zi’ere. The specifics about the type of heart disease Amina was diagnosed with is the exact same disease Zi’ere lives with this very day. Although “In Sickness and In Health” is a fictional novel, Amina’s response to finding out she was sick and her subsequent denial were all factual events that this author faced for many years. She simply thought if she ignored her problem it would go away. The reason it was important for Zi’ere to write this story was to remind every reader that the diagnosis doesn’t mean a life sentence. And also that serious medical issues do not simply go away because you choose to ignore them. Zi’ere had to find that out the hard way. Thank God she was given a man who was just as strong as Carlos was in this story to stand by her side. Zi’ere has achieved many goals since she has been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and WPW. Accomplishments include a successful marriage even though she felt unworthy of being loved in the beginning. She has obtained two college degrees. She has carried to term and delivered two healthy children even though the doctors told her not to even try, just like Amina. Last but not least, she has become a published author. She sincerely hopes you enjoyed this story, it brought back a lot of memories and she still uses the past as a teacher for success in the future. Many thanks go out to the Cardiac Transplant and Heart Failure Clinic @ Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Zi’ere
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by electronic, mechanical or other means, now or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying, and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously, and any resemblances to the actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
©ZI’EREBOOKS est. 2013
Zi’ereBooks 2016
1
How It All Began…
Rodney had just sat down on the side of the bed, kicking off his loafers, and snatching off his tie as fast
as he could. He hated hotel life but it was a part of his job that he needed to take care of his family. The simple thought of his kids and the woman he loved more than life brought a smile to his face. He decided to call to check on his crew but before he could dial the numbers his cell phone began to ring automatically. The call wasn’t coming from anyone in his household. He was confused.
“Hey man!”
Rod looked down at his cell phone. The name read ‘Steve’. The only Steve he knew was his neighbor three houses down from his own. His heart rate began to increase. If something had happened to his family while he was away, he would never forgive himself.
“What’s going on? Has something happened at my house?”
He looked down at the watch on the nightstand beside him. It was almost four am in Chandler.
“Aye man, the house is fine. I mean your house is fine. I checked it from front to back but the issue is the kids.”
“What do you mean the kids? What the hell has happened to my kids? Where is Angel…why isn’t she making this call instead of you?”
“I wish I had some concrete information to give you man, I really do but the entire situation is weird to me. When I pulled onto the street, I see Amaya walking up the street, you know like she was on her way out of the subdivision. When she passed my house she didn’t have any intent to stop is what it looked like. Me and Jill were just getting back from Vegas you know. Jill hopped out the car before I could even stop it good. She scooped her up and got her in the house while I grabbed my piece and went in search of the other kids. It looks like they were all home alone man. I’m talking about been there by themselves for a long time too.”
“WHAT?”
“Yea man. The kids had food everywhere and looked like the twins hadn’t had their diapers changed in a while. You know my wife. She had me help get the boys straight while she got the girls together. She even had me go back to your house in search of clothing, diapers, and a list of shit. I’ve been back down there three times, Angel still isn’t there.”
Rod was speechless. Everything he’d heard in the street about the woman he loved was all coming true and no matter how much he tried to overlook it, the shit was falling apart. He’d been gone for two days. There was a seminar in California he had to make that would give them the funds and time off to take a real family vacation to Disney World in Florida, just like she asked.
“Let me talk to him!” Rod could hear Steve’s wife shout in the background.
“ROD I MADE SOME CALLS AND THAT TRIFLING ASS BITCH IS OUT OF TOWN WHILE YOUR BABIES WERE AT HOME ALONE FENDING FOR THEMSELVES. IF IT WASN’T FOR YOU I WOULD CALL CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ON THAT BITCH BUT I AM GIVING YOU TIL ELEVEN AM TODAY FOR YOU TO COME PICK UP THESE INNOCENT CHILDREN OR I WILL GO TO MY GRAVE MAKING SURE YOU OR THAT STUPID ASS TRAMP NEVER GET THEM BACK. OH AND IF YOU TALK TO THAT UPPITY- BUM BITCH- YOU BEST LET HER KNOW NOT TO RING MY DAMN DOOR BELL BECAUSE I AM ONLY GIVING THEM TO YOU! NOW I HAVE AN ASS WHIPPIN FOR HER! SHE CAN COME PICK THAT UP FO’ SHO!” Jill’s voice was shaking.
Even though Rod couldn’t see her but he could tell she meant every word she said. And, to say that Jill was upset was an understatement. He heard her shove the phone back to her husband. In years he’d never heard the woman use those types of words. She was the president of the homeowner’s association and PTA of the elementary school.
Their children were a bit older than Rod’s but he was put on notice when he bought the house that he would have to deal with the Mrs. Jill Swarsh at some point or another. Jill was the epitome of a Stepford Wife. Her home was immaculate. The flowers in her yard always bloomed in the brightest colors. They had five kids, she had Steve, she ran a home based business, and yet she knew the personal business of every family in the subdivision.
“Man, I’m going to calm her down. You know she’s mad but your kids are in the best hands in Chandler. Hit me when you get back.”
Without another word Steve hung up on him to tend to his wife who was ready to beat anybody who looked like Angel’s ass. Rod looked at the phone until it went out of focus. He then fell into a black hole. The man couldn’t decipher what he was feeling. Was it embarrassment, stupidity, was he just as naïve as he had been told he was and fell for the same shit his mom had been warning him about for years- a trifling ass woman. His situation didn’t just stop at making the wrong decision in a mate…he’d done the ultimate and had four children with the same woman who’d left his children home alone. There were no excuses for her. Angel didn’t work because he provided enough money for her to live lavish without having a boss to answer too. All he’d ever asked her to do was take care of their children. He’d long ago gave up on her taking care of him anymore.
His oldest child was five years old and for over five years he’d been pushed aside by the woman he loved most. Rod was a simple man. As long as the house was clean and the children were taken care of, he was also a happy man. His mother on the other hand was a different matter. Thinking of his mother, he snapped out of the fog he’d been sitting in. Jumping aboard team no sleep, Rod got up and proceeded to get dressed. He would have to catch the next train, airplane, bike, trucker, or shooting start out of San Francisco back to Chandler.
He didn’t want to think about it but he knew he wasn’t going to make it back by the Warden Jill’s demands. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t try with all his might though. When it came to his kids, he always managed to pull off the impossible. This day he had to get back to Chandler before his mom found out her grand-babies had been left unattended for five minutes versus a few hours. Jill would be wasting her time fighting Angel, Rod’s mom would put Angel in the morgue.
2
“ANGEL! ANGEL! WAKE UP!” Rod had a deep voice but still had to scream.
He shook his fiancé’s body trying to wake her from a deep sleep. The longer it took for her to acknowledge him, the more upset he got. If he couldn’t wake her, he had no idea how anyone else could. Angel was fucking up big time and her slip was showing. Switching flights, layovers, and bad weather had made his travels difficult. As soon as he made it to the heart of the neighborhood he stopped at Jill and Steve’s home. Steve pushed him back onto the porch to be able to whisper that Angel had come to pick up the kids just an hour before. As if he was snitching on the First 48, Steve rushed Rod off his property.
If he hadn’t forgotten to pay the taxi driver, Rod would have run down the street to get to his babies.
All I want is a family. A wife. A nice home. And kids that look or act like me. That is all the fuck I want…why is that shit so hard these days. Where in the hell are all the women looking for a good man. I work every damn day. I make good money. I don’t live beyond my means. I have money in checking and savings. But forget me, why can’t this girl take care of her own fuckin kids?
“WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG NOW?” Angel shot up in the bed.
She was pissed that anyone could be disturbing the sleep she so desperately needed. There was no way to stop her facial expression of sheer annoyance from showing what couldn’t be heard in her voice.
“WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING TO LIKE THAT?” He responded.
Rod looked at her like she was an alien with three heads as he shouted just a few inches from her face. Angel was in the dead wrong category to wake up cussing and fussing. He was speechless for a few seconds waiting on an answer from her. He’d never heard her use four letter words before. And considering they had four small children, she shouldn’t have been using that kind of language at all in his opinion. It was very disheartening for him. He really loved Angel and he had plans for a beautiful future that included their four kids. All he needed her to do was be a good wife and mother.
He grew up with a mother that was off the chain, he didn’t want the same thing for his kids. Just now it was becoming evident that Angel was far worse than his own mother could had ever been. Deloris befriended some shady people but it was all for the betterment of his life. She went through hell and high water
to make sure her only child had any and everything he wanted. Rod certainly wanted to do the same thing for his children and he broke his back trying.
“Dam-…I’m sorry baby. I must have still had sleep in my head.” Angel changed her voice back too nice-fake.
She smiled hoping she could fix what she thought to be her only terrible wrong. Angel Stevens had no idea but using a cuss word and a half was only a fraction of the issues her man had with her that day. She looked at the handsome chocolate man dressed to impress in a three piece suit. All of a sudden it hit her: Rod was home from work. He was home and she’d had no time to stage the house or the kids. Her heart began to beat hard in her chest.
She’d been caught slipping once again. Looking over his shoulder she saw it was one thirty even though she already knew that. Anyone could set their watch by Rodney Westin that was how dependable he was. Judging by the mean mug he had on his face he was already pissed at her and it had nothing to do with her nap in the middle of the day. Two things were for certain: if she knew her rugrats the way she did, there was no telling what they’d gotten into. The second thing was that the language she’d used was just the tip of the ice berg.
“Come here sweetheart let me show you something.”
He reached for her hand
3
Angel knew what she needed to see before she got to the common areas in the beautiful home Rod afforded for her and their children. They had two beautiful daughters and the cutest identical twin boys anyone in Chandler had ever seen. She was now in her nightgown, as if she’d been home the night before. It was the same one she was wearing when she’d fixed him breakfast the morning he left to make his flight for work. As she walked barefoot down the hall she heard the loud commotion coming from the den and kitchen at the same time. There was no explanation why their noise hadn’t wakened her way before their dad got home. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, preparing for the worst.
